The Struggle Within

In this short yet powerful drama, a single actor is surrounded by three internal forces: Perfectionist, Pragmatist, and Defeatist. Each force pulls the actor in a different direction. One demands a flawless performance. Another insists on sunny optimism. The third whispers that failure is inevitable.

As the tension mounts, the actor confronts a fundamental truth of the Christian journey: we are crucified with Christ but also raised with him. Our identity is not found in perfection, self-help, or surrender to despair, but rather in total dependence on the grace of God.

The Struggle Within is ideal for worship services, youth groups, and small-group discussions. It reminds us that victory over our inner battles has already been won through Christ.

Bible Reference:  Galatians 2:

Cast: 4, (m or f, any age)
Actor, Perfectionist (Perf), Pragmatist (Prag), Defeatist (Def)

Set, Sound: standard

Costumes:  3 characters: Perfectionist, Pragmatist & Defeatist have tshirts or sashes with their names on them

Time:   5

Sample of Script:

(Actor enters happily.)

Actor:
Wow! . . . In God I am a new creation!

(Pragmatist enters with chest out, chin up, and a confident swagger.)

Prag:
Life is beautiful! Every day, in every way, we’re getting a little bit better!
What a beautiful life, living in the fruit of the Spirit!

Actor:
Yes, that is I—a Pragmatist. That is a part of me!
As the Bible says, in God I am a conqueror.

(Perfectionist enters, silently observing.)

Prag:
A conqueror indeed! Through Jesus, inheriting the keys to heaven!
And every day, in every way, we’re getting a little bit better!

Perf:
Beware, for as it is written: Pride goes before a fall!
As a child of God, I must constantly remember—only perfection, faultlessness, is good enough.
I must be perfect!

(Actor frowns.)

Actor:
Another part of me… The Perfectionist.
Always aware of my weaknesses.
And my Pragmatism seems to constantly battle my Perfectionism.

(Defeatist enters slowly, slouched over, with a frown.)

Perf:
We are a child of the one true God—anything less than perfection is unthinkable!

Def:
Perfection? . . . We don’t think so!
Remember, we are Christians living in a very secular, very decadent world!
There is no such thing as perfection.
It just isn’t possible.
So why not just give up right now?

Actor:
Yet another part of me—The Defeatist.
Since we face such strong struggles, the Defeatist believes that just giving up and accepting defeat is the only rational course of action.

Prag:
We are not going to fall for that Defeatist way of living!
We will look at the world as the glass half full, not half empty.
That is the way we will live!
Remember, every day in every way, we’re getting a little bit better!

Want to see how the story unfolds? DramaShare members get this complete script— and access to our entire library—free! Not a member? You can still grab this individual script and bring it to life.